EU referendum: Alex Salmond says Brexit would spark Indyref2

Mark McLaughlin

There will be another Scottish independence referendum if there is a majority vote at Holyrood, according to Alex Salmond.

The former first minister said his successor, Nicola Sturgeon, has “a democratic mandate” to propose another referendum if there is a “material change in circumstances”, such as Scotland being taken out of the European Union.

But eurosceptic Conservative MP Iain Duncan Smith insisted Scots do not want “another never-ending referendum in Scotland every time something changes”, during a head-to-head debate with Mr Salmond on LBC Radio.

Mr Duncan Smith said he does not believe a Brexit will lead to the break-up of the UK.

He said: “The Scots people had a vote on whether to be part of the UK or not. They voted [to stay] by a reasonable margin. I would consider that a convincing margin if the same result was on whether to leave or stay in the EU.”

Mr Salmond said: “Two years ago the No side in the Scottish referendum said if we voted Yes it would jeopardise our place in the EU.

“Clearly that’s a change in material circumstances if that came about, that Scotland voted to Remain and England voted Out and Scotland was pulled out against our will.

“Secondly, there is the democratic mandate. Nicola Sturgeon made this quite clear last year in the general election, and the result was the SNP got 56 out of 59 seats and again in the Scottish election when the SNP got 47 per cent.”